Role of the media in crime and deviance

    AQA
    GCSE

    Candidates must analyze the dialectical relationship between media representation and the social construction of criminality. This study area necessitates an evaluation of how media organizations select, present, and distort crime (news values), and the subsequent impact on public perception and social policy. Central to this is the debate regarding the media as a criminogenic agent—whether through relative deprivation, the commodification of violence, or the creation of moral panics. Analysis should extend from classic interactionist studies (Cohen) to contemporary issues surrounding cybercrime and the 'mediascape' (Hayward and Young).

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    Objectives
    4
    Exam Tips
    3
    Pitfalls
    3
    Key Terms
    4
    Mark Points

    What You Need to Demonstrate

    Key skills and knowledge for this topic

    • Credit explicit application of Cohen's 'Folk Devils and Moral Panics' regarding the Mods and Rockers.
    • Award marks for explaining the 'deviancy amplification spiral' where media reaction increases the deviance it condemns.
    • Candidates must link 'agenda setting' and 'gatekeeping' to the selection of news stories (e.g., violent crime over-representation).
    • Reward analysis that contrasts Marxist views (media as ideological control) with Pluralist views (media reflecting public interest).

    Marking Points

    Key points examiners look for in your answers

    • Credit explicit application of Cohen's 'Folk Devils and Moral Panics' regarding the Mods and Rockers.
    • Award marks for explaining the 'deviancy amplification spiral' where media reaction increases the deviance it condemns.
    • Candidates must link 'agenda setting' and 'gatekeeping' to the selection of news stories (e.g., violent crime over-representation).
    • Reward analysis that contrasts Marxist views (media as ideological control) with Pluralist views (media reflecting public interest).

    Examiner Tips

    Expert advice for maximising your marks

    • 💡In 12-mark questions, ensure every paragraph follows the PERC structure: Point, Explanation, Reference (to Item/Study), Critique.
    • 💡When discussing moral panics, explicitly name the stages: symbolisation, exaggeration, prediction.
    • 💡Use the term 'social construction' to describe how news is manufactured, not just 'reported'.
    • 💡Allocate 15 minutes strictly for the 12-mark essay to ensure sufficient depth of evaluation.

    Common Mistakes

    Pitfalls to avoid in your exam answers

    • Confusing 'deviancy amplification' (the process of reaction creating more crime) with 'copycat crime' (imitation).
    • Providing anecdotal examples of crime news rather than citing sociological studies or concepts.
    • Failing to explicitly reference the provided Item in 12-mark questions, resulting in a cap on AO2 marks.

    Key Terminology

    Essential terms to know

    Likely Command Words

    How questions on this topic are typically asked

    Identify
    Describe
    Explain
    Discuss
    Evaluate
    To what extent

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